Oh dear. After what looked like the resurrection of the tournament in 2016/2017 with a return to 4 wheel drive wrc2 class cars and a number of competitors who have driven in the WRC, it looks horribly like the competition has gone backwards again this year. The full competitor list hasn’t been announced yet, but i think based on the names i have seen, I’ll be hoping David Bogie wins it. The opening event (Border Counties) has had such a reduction in entries compared to last year, its dropped from a 2 day 80 mile event to a single day 40 mile event as otherwise it would have lost money for the organising club. Doesn’t bode well

Couldn’t agree more. Vatanen and Blomquist won it. Toivonen competed. Airikkala. Clark.Coleman. Even BRC legends who didn’t quite make the grade at WRC like Higgins and Cronin. Now it feels much more clubman like (and i mean no disrespect as even the clubmen have more talent than I could dream of having), but as a feeder to the ERC and WRC its not a great year at this stage.

I went to a Friends evening at Beaulieu last Saturday where Graham Robson was talking with Dave Richards.

Apart from his navigator days, Prodrive, Rothmans, McRae & Burns, F1, Aston Martin etc..you might know DR is now the top man at the MSA.

As a licenced rally marshall/timekeeper and previously holding a comp licence and along with other similar people you will have seen some pretty daft things coming out of the MSA.

I cant remember all the topics covered regarding the MSA but DR was talking about being the MSA being too concerned with being risk adverse, electric racing will not be taking over (but the short sharp format of RallyX was possible), electric karts (saving a huge amount in carrying spare engines), of course technology will be an influence, MSA has to move into the modern age regarding social media and inclusion, there was loads more.

I have always looked at how Prodrive has been run by DR and his team and I was totally energised by what he was trying to do at the MSA it will be putting the skids under a lot of 'jackets' who have taken all the free tickets and expenses but sat around doing nothing for years. It will take time and a complete change at MSA HQ, but I believe motorsport in the UK is now in very safe hands with DR at the helm.